A Critical Review of Medemer from Ideological Perspectives
Main Article Content
Keywords
Blended Ideology, Ethiopia, Ideologies, Medemer
Abstract
Medemer, both as a book and as an idea, is trapped between two extremes: admiration and rejection. Writers from both ends offer their thoughts, criticisms, and reviews of Medemer. The aim of this article is to analyze Medemer from an ideological perspective. Raising some political and policy questions about Medemer’s application is also the aim of this article. This article used a qualitative research approach and comparative and critical research methods. Secondary sources of data were used to compare Medemer with various political ideologies. Ideologically, Medemer meets the three criteria (critics of the present order, vision of the future society, and theory of change). Medemer is a “blended ideology” that combines concepts, principles, and ideas from liberalism, socialism, conservatism, and fascism. Furthermore, Medemer ideology attempted to combine concepts from opposing political ideologies and proposed it as a solution to Ethiopia’s complex sociopolitical and economic problems. Despite the government’s claim that Medemer is Ethiopia’s redeemer, several political questions remain unanswered given the country’s current situation. Therefore, the country’s complicated sociopolitical and economic problems under the regime of the Prosperity Party challenged the applicability of Medemer. Is Medemer thus the sole (or perhaps the only) instrument, policy framework, ideology, and mechanism for resolving Ethiopia’s multiple, dynamic, and complex socio-political problems? These remain a point of contention among academics and politicians.
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References
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Heywood, A. (2002). Politics. 2nd edition. Palgrave Macmillan
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Human Rights Watch. (2021) World Report 2021: Ethiopia. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/ethiopia
International Rescue Committee. (2021). Crisis in Ethiopia: New conflict threatens the region. https://www.rescue.org/article/crisis-ethiopia-new-conflict-threatens-region
Jay, M. Shafritz, E.W. Russell, Christopher P. Borick, and Albert C. Hyde. (2017). Introducing Public Administration. 9th edition. Taylor and Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315619439
Jima, A. O. (2021). Vicious circle of Ethiopian politics: Prospects and challenges of current political reform. Cogent Social Sciences, 7(1), 1893908. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2021.1893908
Linda, Y. (2020). Abiy’s homespun balancing act: Medemer reviewed. Ethiopia Insight. https://www.ethiopia-insight.com/2020/01/26/abiys-homespun-balancing-act-medemer-reviewed/ accessed on 6/8/2021
MacKenzie, I. (2003). The idea of ideology. Political ideologies: An introduction, 3, 1-16.
Mariam, A. G. (2019a). Working through Political Entropy in Ethiopia with Medemer part two: Interpretive review of the book Medemer, by A. Ahmed. Al Mariam’s Commentaries. https://almariam.com/2019/10/28/medemer-by-abiy-ahmed-ph-d-an-interpretive-book-review-part-ii-curing-political-entropy-in-ethiopia-with-medemer/
Mariam, A. G. (2019b). The “philosophy” of “Medemer part one: Interpretive review of the book Medemer, by A. Ahmed. Al Mariam’s Commentaries. http://almariam.com/2019/10/20/medemer-by-abiy-ahmed-ph-d-an-interpretive-book-review-in-two-parts/
Siraj, M. (2019). The hijacked revolution (የተጠለፈ የህዝብ ትግል). 1st edition. Dinsho Printing Press.
National Socialism. (2015). Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate Ethiopia - Tigray Region Humanitarian Update
OCHA. (2021). Ethiopia - Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Situation%20Report%20-%20Ethiopia%20-%20Tigray%20Region%20Humanitarian%20Update%20-%2028%20Feb%202021.pdf
O’Sullivan, N. (1993). Conservatism. Contemporary Political Ideologies. Eatwell, R. & Wright, A. ed., 50-77, Pinter Publisher, London. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429038839-3
Sara Mokaddem. (2019). Abiy Ahmed’s ‘Medemer’ reforms: Can it ensure sustainable growth for Ethiopia and what are the challenges facing the new government? Policy Brief. Policy Centre for the New South
Soucy, R. (2021, April 13). fascism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/fascism
UNICEF. (2021). ETHIOPIA Humanitarian Situation Tigray Crisis Situation Report No.1. https://www.unicef.org/media/91161/file/Ethiopia-Humanitarian-SitRep-Tigray-Crisis-14-January-2021.pdf
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UN. (2021). Statement by the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, on the situation in Ethiopia. United Nations Press Release
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VOA. (2019). Afan Oromo: Gaaffii fi Deebii Guutuu Obbo Lammaa Magarsaa Waliin Geggeessamee fi Deebii Paartii Badhaadhimaa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdmTqZ_xONw accessed on 6/25/2021
Vincent, A. (2010). Modern political ideologies. 3rd ed. John Wiley & Sons.
Walker, T. C., & Rousseau, D. L. (2016). Liberalism: a theoretical and empirical assessment. In Routledge Handbook of Security Studies (pp. 36-45). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315753393-10
Woldeyes, Y. G. (2017). Native colonialism: Education and the Economy of Violence Against Traditions in Ethiopia. The Red Sea Press.
Wilford, R. (2003). Fascism. Political Ideology: an introduction, 3rd ed, 120-150. Taylor & Francis group. London
Yusuf, S. (2019a). What is driving Ethiopia’s ethnic conflicts?. ISS East Africa Report, 2019(28), 1-16.
Yusuf, S. (2019b). Drivers of ethnic conflict in contemporary Ethiopia. Institute for Security Studies Monographs, 2019(202), v-46.
Zimmermann-Steinhart, P., & Bekele, Y. (2012). The implications of federalism and decentralisation on socio-economic conditions in Ethiopia. Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.4314/pelj.v15i2.5
Alexander, J. (2014). The major ideologies of liberalism, socialism and conservatism. Political Studies, 63(5), 980-994. https://doi.org/10.1111%2F1467-9248.12136
Aljazeera. (2021). Is independence from Ethiopia the TPLF’s endgame in Tigray? [video file]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIOMQYI6Hnw&t=247s Accessed on 5/12/2021
Aljazeera. (2020). The Battle for Ethiopia People and Power. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ2NVXuzjww Accessed on 3/22/2021
Assefa, A. A. (2019). Book Review: “Medemer”, A Book by Dr. Abiy Ahmed. Retrieved from:http://aigaforum.com/article2019/Book-Review-Medemer-by-Abiy.htm retrieved on 3/9/2021
Aweke, A. K. (2021). Civil resistance in Ethiopia: An overview of historical development. African Journal of History and Culture, 13(1), 7-18. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJHC2020.0471
Bellamy, R. (1993). Liberalism. Contemporary Political Ideologies. Eatwell, R. & Wright, A. ed., 23-49, Pinter Publisher, London. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429038839-2
Channel 4 news. (2021). The Horrors of the Hidden War: Inside the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0OxwpFlaA0 Accessed on 3/22/2021
CNN. (2021a). something’s not right: see tense confrontation between CNN crew and soldiers [video File]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JalwHvcCBBk Accessed on 14/05/2021
CNN. (2021b). CNN exclusive: How religious Festival Turned into Massacre. CNN report on Tigrai Genocide. [video file]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOPFH5xrYWM Accessed on 14/05/2021
CNN. (2021c). Crises in Tigray, Ethiopia have devastating impact on children - UNICEF on CNN with Becky Anderson. [video file]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts4LtngwjYM Accessed on 14/05/2021
Desalegn, B. (2019). Analysis on the Current Ethiopian Politics by the Name of “Medemer”. Journal of Political Sciences & Public Affairs, vol. 7, issue 2. http://doi:10.4172/2332-0761.1000364
Eatwell, R. (1993). Ideologies: an Approach and Trens. In Eatwell R. and Wright A. ed., 1-22, Contemporary political ideologies. Pinter Publisher, London. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429038839-1
Eccleshall, R. (2003). Liberalism. Political ideologies: An introduction, 3, 17 45.Taylor & Francis group. London
Fascism. (2015). Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Fentaw, A. F. (2011). Greater Ethiopia: The evolution of a pluralist politico-legal system in a pluralist polity. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1909803
France 24. (2021a). Eye on Africa: Ethiopia Tigray Crisis, Tigray Risks as ‘Anti-farming campaign’ underway claim official. [Video file]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEbIzLfmhLg&t=105s Accessed on 14/05/2021
France 24. (2021b). The Debate: Which way for Ethiopia? Abiy Ahmed cracks Downon Revolt Ahead of Election. [Video file]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6o8VNDi2SdM&t=1081s Accessed on 05/12/2021
Geoghegan, V., & Wilford, R. (2014). Political ideologies: An introduction. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315814384
Gudina, M. (2011). Ethiopia: From autocracy to revolutionary democracy, the 1960s – 2011. Addis Ababa University
Griffin, R. (2012). Studying Fascism in a post Fascist Age. From New Consensus to New Wave?. Fascism, 1(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1163/221162512X623601
Griffin, R. (2008). A fascist century: Essays by Roger Griffin. Springer.
Harrison, K., & Boyd, T. (2003). Understanding political ideas and movements. Manchester University Press. https://doi.org/10.9760/MUPOA/9780719061516
Heywood, A. (2021). Political ideologies: An introduction. 7th ed. Red Globe Press
Heywood, A. (2019). Politics. 5th ed. Red Globe Press
Heywood, A. (2018). Essentials of Political Ideas. Palgrave. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-61168-0
Heywood, A. (2017). Political ideologies: An introduction. Macmillan International Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-60604-4
Heywood, A. (2003). Political ideologies: An introduction. 3rd edd. Palgrave Macmillan International Higher Education.
Heywood, A. (2002). Politics. 2nd edition. Palgrave Macmillan
Horst, I. S. (2020). Like Ho Chi Minh! Like Che Guevara! The revolutionary left in Ethiopia, 1969–1979. Foreign Languages Press.
Human Rights Watch. (2021) World Report 2021: Ethiopia. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/ethiopia
International Rescue Committee. (2021). Crisis in Ethiopia: New conflict threatens the region. https://www.rescue.org/article/crisis-ethiopia-new-conflict-threatens-region
Jay, M. Shafritz, E.W. Russell, Christopher P. Borick, and Albert C. Hyde. (2017). Introducing Public Administration. 9th edition. Taylor and Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315619439
Jima, A. O. (2021). Vicious circle of Ethiopian politics: Prospects and challenges of current political reform. Cogent Social Sciences, 7(1), 1893908. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2021.1893908
Linda, Y. (2020). Abiy’s homespun balancing act: Medemer reviewed. Ethiopia Insight. https://www.ethiopia-insight.com/2020/01/26/abiys-homespun-balancing-act-medemer-reviewed/ accessed on 6/8/2021
MacKenzie, I. (2003). The idea of ideology. Political ideologies: An introduction, 3, 1-16.
Mariam, A. G. (2019a). Working through Political Entropy in Ethiopia with Medemer part two: Interpretive review of the book Medemer, by A. Ahmed. Al Mariam’s Commentaries. https://almariam.com/2019/10/28/medemer-by-abiy-ahmed-ph-d-an-interpretive-book-review-part-ii-curing-political-entropy-in-ethiopia-with-medemer/
Mariam, A. G. (2019b). The “philosophy” of “Medemer part one: Interpretive review of the book Medemer, by A. Ahmed. Al Mariam’s Commentaries. http://almariam.com/2019/10/20/medemer-by-abiy-ahmed-ph-d-an-interpretive-book-review-in-two-parts/
Siraj, M. (2019). The hijacked revolution (የተጠለፈ የህዝብ ትግል). 1st edition. Dinsho Printing Press.
National Socialism. (2015). Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate Ethiopia - Tigray Region Humanitarian Update
OCHA. (2021). Ethiopia - Tigray Region Humanitarian Update: Situation Report. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Situation%20Report%20-%20Ethiopia%20-%20Tigray%20Region%20Humanitarian%20Update%20-%2028%20Feb%202021.pdf
O’Sullivan, N. (1993). Conservatism. Contemporary Political Ideologies. Eatwell, R. & Wright, A. ed., 50-77, Pinter Publisher, London. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429038839-3
Sara Mokaddem. (2019). Abiy Ahmed’s ‘Medemer’ reforms: Can it ensure sustainable growth for Ethiopia and what are the challenges facing the new government? Policy Brief. Policy Centre for the New South
Soucy, R. (2021, April 13). fascism. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/fascism
UNICEF. (2021). ETHIOPIA Humanitarian Situation Tigray Crisis Situation Report No.1. https://www.unicef.org/media/91161/file/Ethiopia-Humanitarian-SitRep-Tigray-Crisis-14-January-2021.pdf
USAID. (2021). Ethiopia – Tigray Conflict. Fact Sheet #1. https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/02.03.2021_Tigray_Fact_Sheet_1.pdf
UN. (2021). Statement by the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, on the situation in Ethiopia. United Nations Press Release
United State Institute of Peace. (2020). A Changing Ethiopia: Understanding Medemer - Can A New Political Philosophy Remake Ethiopia? [Video files] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKyP7M5NtSE&t=47s accessed on 14/06/2021
VOA. (2019). Afan Oromo: Gaaffii fi Deebii Guutuu Obbo Lammaa Magarsaa Waliin Geggeessamee fi Deebii Paartii Badhaadhimaa. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdmTqZ_xONw accessed on 6/25/2021
Vincent, A. (2010). Modern political ideologies. 3rd ed. John Wiley & Sons.
Walker, T. C., & Rousseau, D. L. (2016). Liberalism: a theoretical and empirical assessment. In Routledge Handbook of Security Studies (pp. 36-45). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315753393-10
Woldeyes, Y. G. (2017). Native colonialism: Education and the Economy of Violence Against Traditions in Ethiopia. The Red Sea Press.
Wilford, R. (2003). Fascism. Political Ideology: an introduction, 3rd ed, 120-150. Taylor & Francis group. London
Yusuf, S. (2019a). What is driving Ethiopia’s ethnic conflicts?. ISS East Africa Report, 2019(28), 1-16.
Yusuf, S. (2019b). Drivers of ethnic conflict in contemporary Ethiopia. Institute for Security Studies Monographs, 2019(202), v-46.
Zimmermann-Steinhart, P., & Bekele, Y. (2012). The implications of federalism and decentralisation on socio-economic conditions in Ethiopia. Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.4314/pelj.v15i2.5
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A Critical Review of Medemer from Ideological Perspectives. (2024). African Journal of Political Science, 12(1), 119-135. https://doi.org/10.36615/895x9t46
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A Critical Review of Medemer from Ideological Perspectives. (2024). African Journal of Political Science, 12(1), 119-135. https://doi.org/10.36615/895x9t46